Carson remembers lifelong servant

Joint Task Force Carson celebrated the life of Bill Reed with a memorial ceremony, June 17, 2014. Reed served 28 years in the Army before becoming a government civilian and serving as manager of the post youth sports program and the Special Events Center. (Photo by Walt Johnson)

By Walt Johnson

Mountaineer staff

The Fort Carson community paused June 17, 2014, to remember William “Bill” Reed, Special Events Center manager, who passed away June 11.

Reed spent his life in service to his country and others. He retired from the Army as a master sergeant after 28 years of service and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal with valor device and the Purple Heart for wounds received in combat.

According to Col. Joel Hamilton, garrison commander, Reed mentored and tutored many Soldiers and Family members, always looking to make anyone he came in contact with a better Soldier and person.

“How appropriate that we are gathered together to remember our great friend, mentor and public servant, Mr. Bill Reed in the one place (Special Events Center) that both Bill and Martha (Reed) took such exceptional pride and ownership. In doing so, Bill will leave an indelible mark on countless Soldiers, Family members, community members and any volunteer who has ever walked through these doors,” Hamilton said.

“In fact, it was Bill and his lovely wife, Martha, that put the ‘special’ in the Special Events Center,” Hamilton said.

Upon retiring from the Army, Reed continued serving his nation while working with the Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation as manager of many of the facilities on post.

Whether the manager of the youth sports program, the Forrest Physical Fitness Center or the Special Events Center, a person couldn’t go in Bill Reed’s facility without being greeted with a warm smile and a concern for their health and welfare.

“Bill was the epitome of selfless service and he served our joint Fort Carson community out of a deep concern to give service to others,” Hamilton said. “It shouldn’t be a surprise that Bill’s favorite time of the year was Christmas. It was during this time that his invaluable spirit of giving made every Soldier and Family member feel they were home for the holidays — that’s because, in fact, they were.”

Bill Reed accompanied Charles Leverette, World Class Athlete Program head boxing coach, as project officer for many boxing events around the world.

“Mr. Reed would always be available to us for anything we needed. He was one of those people that you just felt better for being around. Up until the end, he was a Soldier’s Soldier and he would stand for nothing short of making sure people got the best he could give. He was a Soldier until the very end,” Leverette said.

Stephanie Timmons, Fort Carson Wellness Center and the post women’s varsity basketball coach, worked closely with Bill Reed, who helped her schedule games and venues on post on many occasions. Timmons said their relationship went beyond working on sports.

“Bill looked at me as more of a daughter than he did anything else. He would mentor me and help me with anything I needed to have a successful basketball program and be a successful person in life,” she said.

“There were many days when he would tell me what I needed to hear, even if I didn’t want to hear it. But he was also the kindest man, always ready to help and never asking for anything in return but for the athletes to do the best they could. He was a great man and will be sorely missed,” she said.

Bill Reed’s concern was always what was best for the people, said Martha Reed. He worked with many commanding generals and garrison commanders, but he also worked with many privates and Family members and they were just as important to him as the top commanders, she said.